#workways

Since I don’t know the morning routine yet I silently start off with some instant coffee and a self-guided tour of the greenhouse with Emile the sheepdog in tow. My hosts come downstairs around noon and Systa makes pancakes while Charly starts to give the tour. He point out every tree, berry bush and piece of stone, all of which have stories to go with them. He has many plans that he wants to do ‘someday’, Japanese gardens, fences, stonework, sitting areas, kitchens, mezzanines, porches, overhands, storage spaces, hidden bunkers, etc.

In addition to the big greenhouse he also has a two car garage, large storage room below, tiny greenhouse and another tool shed. Now yesterday, on our drive together, he mentioned briefly that his girlfriend was a bit of a collector and that she worked part-time at a recycling center. I didn’t think a whole of it at first but now I understand. The rooms are PACKED with reclaimed treasures that someone might want or might be valuable someday. They both look at me with a knowing smile and a joke about ‘the American TV show, Hoarders” is made. After two hours of potential projects I can tell they don’t quite know what to do with me or where to start and in this moment I know exactly why I’m here.

Immediately I start suggesting how we can set up the rooms, organize the spaces and start prodding to see how willing they are part with things. I enquire why they need 37 old laptops and I’m told its to mine for the gold and silver parts. Why do you need 4 sewing machines? “Someone might want them”. Why do you need 13 french horns? “Someone gave them to us and they are nice looking”. I can see I have my work cut out for me but immediately get into my bossy mode and get to work.

We spend about 8 hours sorting piles of misc stuff, moving boxes, sorting everything into recyclable categories. It’s funny how individually they both say the other one is the bigger collector and how they’ve been wanting to get rid of things for years but they argue it so stopped trying. I have to laugh because this is a very common occurrence anytime I’ve done this with other people. I think I play more of a therapist/mediator than an organizer.

We haven’t really eaten since pancakes at noon so we sit down for a pre-dinner snack of more pancakes around 8:00. Systa begins making pulled beef dish for dinner. Charly takes me on a walk around the property, points out various islands, plants, farms, animal tracks and the big glacier in the distance. There is always one more “I want to show you…”. I can certainly tell the difference between being their first workawayer instead of their 47th. They are very keen on sharing informations, giving me local foods to try and also showing me the sights. It’s nice.

We sit down to a spicy beef dish that translates to ‘old clothes’ at 11:30. After dinner as I am about to collapse in my bed, Charly asks if I want to go for a walk ‘later’ and my first questions is “How later?”. He tells me there is a special meteor shower tonight so we walk around in the dark with Emile while he points how houses he’s built, we talk politics and religions with shooting stars overhead.